Target for a Sport Training Device

ABSTRACT

A target for a sport training device including a frame and a support structure positioned within the frame. In combination, the support structure and frame have a cross-sectional area such that the torsion coefficient tapers away from the mount. The target further includes a sheet bonded to the frame and the support structure. The sheet, the frame, and the support structure may be formed from a unitary substrate, e.g. an elastomer. The sheet covers a portion of the support structure providing some rigidity. The support structure may be a spoked web, a regular mesh, or an irregular mesh.

FIELD

The present invention relates generally to a sports training device. Inparticular, it relates to a frame and support structure that taperstorsion coefficient away from the mount.

BACKGROUND

In many sports, a player needs to accurately throw, kick, hit, or shoota projectile to a specific location in a goal. To illustrate, in soccer,there are locations in a goal that are very difficult for the goalie todefend, e.g. upper corners of the goal. During practice, players drillto improve their accuracy by aiming at a physical practice target. Thetarget visually focuses their attention to the point of interest. Thephysical practice targets are removable as they are not used in actualgame play. The practice target is transported to the practice site andattached to the goal in one or more positions during a drill. The targetmay be reattached during the session to practice aiming at differentlocations in the goal.

SUMMARY

A target for sport training device includes a frame and a supportstructure positioned within the frame. In combination, the supportstructure and frame have a cross-sectional area such that thicknesstapers away from the mount.

The target further includes a sheet bonded to the frame and the supportstructure. The sheet, the frame, and the support structure may be formedfrom a unitary substrate, e.g. an elastomer. The sheet covers a portionof the support structure providing some rigidity.

The support structure may be a spoked web, a regular or irregular mesh.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a sports training device having a target.

FIGS. 2A-2C illustrates the target shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 2A shows afront view of the target, e.g. a circle. FIG. 2B shows a frame and asupport structure of the target in a rear view. FIG. 2C shows across-sectional view along line A-B of the target.

FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of the sheet.

FIGS. 4A-B illustrate alternate embodiments for the support structure.FIG. 4A shows a large mesh having material from the support structureremoved. FIG. 4B shows a fine mesh.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a sports training device. Morespecifically, it relates to a portable practice target device that maybe attached to an in situ support at a variety of locations to enable anindividual to independently practice and improve throwing, kicking, orshooting accuracy of projectiles.

FIG. 1 illustrates a sports training device. The device 10 includes atarget 12 having a mounting arm 12A and an attachment 14. Incombination, the mounting arm 12A and the attachment 14 form a mountingattachment.

The target device disclosed is not limited to mounting to a sports goal,nor is it limited for use during practice. The practice target can alsobe mounted to any designated location such as a pole, which may behorizontal, vertical or angled, where a person wishes to mark for aimsuch as in Frisbee golf or a game of horse. The target has a varyingtorsion coefficient. The torsion coefficient is high proximate to themounting arm and decreases as one moves across the target, e.g. furtheraway from the mounting arm. The torsion coefficient is the geometricalphysical property of a bar's cross-section which is involved in therelationship between angle of twist and applied torque along the axis ofthe bar, for a homogeneous linear-elastic bar. The torsion coefficient,together with material properties and length describe the overallstiffness of the target.

FIGS. 2A-2C illustrates the target 12 shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 2A shows afront view of the target, e.g. a circle. FIG. 2B shows a frame and asupport structure in a rear view of the target. FIG. 2C shows across-sectional view along line A-B of the target. The target may be ofany shape. A rounded target will be more durable than one with angles.

In FIG. 2B, the support structure has a support structure 18 and a frame16. The frame 16 provides support along the perimeter while the supportstructure 18 provides internal support and target integrity recovery.The support structure is shown as having a spoked web configuration butcan have other configurations. The frame 16 and support structure 18contains sufficient material to be flexible upon impact and to recoverfrom the impact. An optional sheet 20 covers a portion of the supportstructure 18 and the frame 16. The sheet 20 may add rigidity to thesupport structure 18.

In FIG. 2C, the illustrative embodiment shows the support structure 18tapers in thickness away from the mounting arm 12A. To vary the torsioncoefficient, it is thickest proximate the mounting arm 12A, point A, andthinnest at the edge of the target distal from the mounting arm 12B,point B. The thickness range depends on the material or materials usedfor the target. When an elastomer is used, the thickness at point Branges in thickness between 25-75% of the thickness point A and theabsolute thickness range of point A is 3 mm to 20 mm. The frame can alsooptionally have a taper in thickness from point A to point B.

In one embodiment, frame 16, support structure 18, and sheet 20 areformed from a unitary substrate. In another embodiment, the frame 16 andthe sheet 20 are formed from a unitary substrate and the supportstructure 18 is snugly positioned within the frame 16. In anotherembodiment, the frame 16 and support structure 18 are formed from aunitary substrate and the sheet 20 is attached to the frame and supportstructure.

The elastomer is defined as a polymer which can reversibly extend5-700%. The measure of hardness, and resistance to deformation (elasticmodulus) for elastic polymer can be quantified by the Shore durometer ordurometer reading. The term refers to the measurement as well as theinstrument itself. Durometer A and Durometer D are different scales fortargeting elastomers for different uses. A larger force is appliedduring a measurement of Durometer D compared to Durometer A, thusDurometer D scale values indicate more resistant or harder material forthe same reading as Durometer A. Within each scale, a larger numberindicates harder or more resistant material.

Elastomers with a Durometer A readings of approximately 80A to 120A or aDurometer D reading of 30D to 70D are suitable for the frame and supportstructure. Some examples of elastomers with durometers within this rangeinclude polyurethane, latex (natural or synthetic rubber emulsion),natural rubber, polychloroprene, e.g. Neoprene®, EPDM rubber (ethyleneproplylene diene monomer (M-class) rubber), synthetic rubber, andfluoropolymer elastomers such as Viton®, and TPE (thermal plasticelastomers) such as Santoprene®. The elastomer may be a solid film,molded foam or other.

The elastomeric material is best to have reasonable tolerance ofenvironmental hazards such as wind, water, ice, chlorine, salt,sunlight, heat, and cold. It should not crack, crease or fade afterreasonable use. For ease of manufacturing, the material is easilycolored, molded and cut. It can be stable over temperature such that itdoes not sag or fold on a hot summer day or become hard and brittle on acold winter day. Other properties such as tear resistance and toughnessare also important. Other components may be integrated in the elastomermaterial to improve its mechanical properties for use. To illustrate,cloth or fiber matrix, e.g. cotton, polyester, or fiberglass, may beformed within an elastomer material of any of the aforementioned baseelastomers for improving tear resistance of the fabricated mounting arm.An elastomeric stiffener may be added for stability and faster returnafter a projectile hit.

FIG. 3 shows rear view of another embodiment of the sheet 20. Thematerial not in contact with the support structure 18 or the frame 16has been removed to lighten the target, as indicated by the holes. Theholes do not all have to have the same shape. Material can be removed aslong as the structural integrity of the target is maintained. Thematerial restricts the collapsing of the support structure upon itself.Holes that are rounded have more durability.

FIGS. 4A-C illustrate alternate embodiments for the support structure.In FIGS. 4A and 4B, the support structure 18 may be a mesh. FIG. 4Ashows a large mesh having material from the support structure removed.The material required to maintain the structural integrity of the targetis inversely proportional to the coarseness of the mesh. FIG. 4B shows afine mesh.

In an alternate embodiment, the sheet incorporates the functionality ofthe frame and support structure. Material may be removed as needed toadjust the torsion coefficient similar to FIGS. 4A and 4B.

Variations of the present invention have been described herein. However,it should be understood that the variations are illustrative examples ofthe present invention and many possible specific variations canrepresent applications of the principles of the invention. While certaincomponents are shown and preferred for the attachment, it is foreseeablethat functionally equivalent components could be used or subsequentlydeveloped to perform the intended functions of the disclosed components.

It is also to be understood that the disclosure is not limited toparticular methods or systems, which can, of course, vary. Toillustrate, the person skilled in the art will understand that thenumber of steps or components shown is only indicative and that themethod can occur in more or fewer steps and that the system may containmore or less components according to the various embodiments. It is alsoto be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose ofdescribing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to belimiting.

Various modifications pertaining to this present invention by oneskilled in the art are deemed within the spirit and scope of thisinvention as defined in the detailed description and claims. Therefore,while the invention has been described in terms of some variations, itis apparent that other forms could be adopted by one skilled in the art,and the scope of the invention is to be limited only by the followingclaims.

In another variation, the target face and mounting arm are integrated asone continuous piece with the same or different thickness and/ormaterial properties such as durometer. Any portion of the target faceand mounting arm may have one or more additional sheets of elastomericor other material attached to it by gluing, lamination, stitching, orother methods.

1. A target for attaching to a mount comprising: a frame, attaching tothe mount such that the mount and the frame are coplanar; and a supportstructure positioned within the frame, wherein the combination of thesupport structure and frame having a torsion coefficient that decreasesaway from the mount, having a maximum torsion coefficient and a minimumtorsion coefficient, a distal end of the support structure and the framehaving the minimum torsion coefficient and an end proximate the mounthaving the maximum torsion coefficient, having a cross-sectional areasuch that the thickness tapers away from the mount.
 2. (canceled)
 3. Thetarget, as in claim 1, further comprising a sheet bonded to the frameand the support structure.
 4. The target, as in claim 3, wherein thesheet, the frame, and the support structure are formed from a commonsubstrate.
 5. The target, as in claim 4, wherein the common substrate isan elastomer having a Durometer A reading of approximately 80A to 120A.6. The target, as in claim 4, the common substrate is an elastomerhaving a Durometer D reading of 30D to 70D.
 7. The target, as in claim4, wherein the common substrate is selected from a group that includespolyurethane, latex, natural rubber, polychloroprene, ethylene propylenediene monomer (M-class) rubber, synthetic rubber, and fluoropolymerelastomers.
 8. The target, as in claim 1, wherein the support structurehas a spoked web configuration.
 9. The target, as in claim 8, furthercomprising a sheet that covers a portion of the support structure andframe.
 10. The target, as in claim 1, wherein the support structure hasa mesh structure.
 11. The target, as in claim 10, further comprising asheet bonded to the frame and the support structure.
 12. The target, asin claim 11, further comprising a sheet that covers a portion of thesupport structure and frame.
 13. The target, as in claim 12, wherein theportion is at least 30%.
 14. A target for attaching to a mountcomprising: a sheet having a torsion coefficient that decreases as awayfrom the mount.
 15. The target, as in claim 14, wherein the sheet is amesh.
 16. The target, as in claim 14, wherein the sheet has a spoked webstructure.